The Sessile, N17

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

I really enjoying living in the Sessile, is clean and tidy, maybe the maintenance could be a little more reactive but overall is a good place to live in North london.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Is quite good, some problem with the lift were annoying but I'm happy.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Honestly I'm quite happy because everything they arrange is sent by email.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Area is well connected and there is retail park - but it is not safe, Many burglaries in and around making walking to the building unsettling.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Some minor repairs were addressed promptly and efficiently

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I wish I had known bed sizes, lack of mattress toppers, and the way the heating charges work.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

The only real advantage of this area is the Victoria Line. Everything else is a disappointment. The neighbourhood lacks essential services: the only food shops are Lidl and Iceland. There is no M&S, no Sainsbury’s, no Tesco, and no affordable everyday options. There is no Royal Mail office, no bank, and no pubs, bars, wine bars, or cafés — nothing that creates a sense of community or livability. Crime rates are extremely high, and the area does not feel safe, especially after dark. Despite hundreds of new flats being built, the neighbourhood feels unfinished, empty, and poorly planned — like living in a neglected development rather than a real community.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

They respond, but they do not actually resolve key problems; window issue is still outstanding after 2.5 years. Otherwise, they are very kind.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I would like to have known how unsafe the area feels, especially in the evenings, and how completely it lacks basic amenities. There are no proper shops, no M&S, no Sainsbury’s, no Tesco, no cafés, no pubs, no bars, no restaurants, no bank, and no Royal Mail office. The whole neighbourhood feels empty, unfinished, and nothing like a real community. I also wish I had known how many serious practical issues the building and flat have. Management enters the flats when residents are not home, sending only a brief notice that they will let themselves in if you do not reply. There are no key locks on any internal rooms, and tenants are given no physical key for the flat, only a single digital fob, which is unacceptable for privacy and security. I would have wanted to know that the landlord/management does not repaint the flat, yet still charges tenants for normal wear and tear on the walls when moving out. There is no underground parking, and the few spaces available cost around £200 per month, which is unreasonable. There are no storage units for residents at all. There is no air conditioning, and residents are not allowed to install their own. There is also no ventilation, not even in the hallways, which makes the building feel stuffy and poorly maintained. The heating system is extremely expensive, and there is no option to change the provider, so tenants are forced to pay high rates with no alternative. I also wish I had known that if any of the appliances (microwave, oven, etc.) break, the tenant is expected to pay for repairs, which is unheard of in a modern rental and should be the landlord’s responsibility, not ours. All of these issues together would have completely changed my decision before signing the tenancy.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Limited shops, no proper supermarket or cinema, poor restaurants. Tottenham High Road doesn’t feel safe.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Response has been mixed. Some issues are handled promptly, but others take longer than expected and require chasing

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I wish I had known that while the development itself looks modern and well-kept, the surrounding area doesn’t offer much in terms of shops, restaurants, or entertainment. There’s no proper supermarket or cinema nearby, so day-to-day convenience isn’t great. I’d also highlight that Tottenham High Road can feel unsafe at times, especially in the evenings, which is something you don’t really get a sense of during a short viewing.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

I can't say there are many restaurants around because it's a relatively new and still developing area. It's okay though. It might get better within time

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

If it's something that can be fixed quickly - they normally do it. If not - really depends. Might take a really long time

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Basically, that's what I expected. It's a developing area, which isn't very nice per se, but because of the tube station nearby you can get anywhere you'd like